CVE-2001-1287 in IMail
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Web Calendar in Ipswitch IMail 7.04 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long HTTP GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1287 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Web Calendar component of Ipswitch IMail version 7.04 and earlier. This issue arises from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly handle excessively long HTTP GET requests, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit the software's memory management to inject and execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability specifically targets the web interface functionality of the email server software, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on IMail for their communication infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the Web Calendar module processes incoming HTTP GET requests without adequate bounds checking on the length of parameters. When an attacker submits a request containing more data than the allocated buffer space can accommodate, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program structures or injecting malicious code. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-787, heap-based buffer overflows, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to complete system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to organizations using Ipswitch IMail versions 7.04 or earlier, as remote attackers can exploit it to gain unauthorized code execution privileges without requiring authentication. The attack surface is particularly concerning since it leverages the web interface, meaning that exploitation can occur from any location with network access to the affected server. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish persistent access to the organization's email infrastructure. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploitation of remote services, and T1059, covering command and script injection, making it a significant vector for lateral movement within compromised networks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to a patched version of Ipswitch IMail, which would contain proper input validation and buffer management controls. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the affected web calendar interface, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous HTTP GET requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of input validation measures, including length restrictions on HTTP parameters and proper buffer boundary checking, would effectively prevent this class of attack. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying patterns associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts, and maintain comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to ensure rapid restoration of services in case of successful compromise.